And after Niklas Kronwall took a stupid penalty late in the third period, yielding Jeff Carter's 2-1 goal, Kronwall got some help from Dan O'Frickin Halloran and the fact that goals scored off the netting aren't reviewable to tie the game with 27 seconds remaining...

Did the Wings "deserve" to win this game? *#$%@& if I know, but they won it, and the Kings may have ensured that it would end this way because they woke a team of plucky youngsters and cagey vets that had been sleepwalking their way through a stretch of severely undermanned games, wondering whether they could finally get it together once some of their legions of injured players return...

And instead, because the Kings got in the Wings' faces, this team decided to do its best to win--and got some necessary help along the way to what may be a season-changing 2 points when we look back at this game two months from now.

Tomas Tatar points to the heavens to honor his late father after scoring the game-winner in the shootout. pic.twitter.com/HBcgSzIoz3

The Board of Governors and the GM's insist that incidental contact no-goals, in-the-crease calls, intent to blow calls and off-the-netting stuff should all remain non-reviewable because it will "slow down the game." It's bound to happen this way.

Sutter on what refs said: "Nothing. What do they have to tell you? I'm sorry?"

That's what you want for a team that's got the Blues and Blackhawks to tangle with--probably with its roster as-is--on Monday and Wednesday. A team fired up, physical and emotional instead of worrying about what it's going to look like when it finally gets Datsyuk and Franzen and Alfredsson back.

#LAKings Quick: On the video, you could see it. It's clear, but non-reviewable. They get a goal that shouldn't have been a goal. #RedWings

At 19:33 of the third period in the Kings/Red Wings game, the puck crossed the Los Angeles goal line and, following a discussion between the four on-ice officials, the referees awarded a goal to Detroit. Video of the play appears to show the puck hitting the protective mesh above the glass before deflecting off goaltender Jonathan Quick and into the Los Angeles net. While the Situation Room examined the video, this is not a reviewable play therefore the referee's call on the ice stands.

“They could see the puck when (Los Angeles forward) Dwight King covered it with his hand (for the third period penalty that led to Kronwall’s goal), but they couldn’t see it when it went over the barn and came back in.”

Sutter declined to speculate on whether the missed call would lead to a rule change allowing such plays to be reviewed.

“You’d have to talk to one of them stewards of the game,” Sutter said.

Comments

It doesn’t matter if it was deserved, a fluke, embarrassing, or what. A win is a win, and two points were sorely needed. I don’t expect us to win them all (nor should anyone, really, with all the boys that are out), but if we play the rest like we played tonight, I will be happy. I will be happier if we win, but happy nonetheless.

I’ll say it for ya George ... YES they deserved a break like that !!! after all the times they’ve been screwed over the years by officiating and their overall effort the last few games, they did deserve it.
was worried it was gonna be the talk of the league but I think Vancouver and Calgary took care of that haha

I really believe that this game could serve as the foundation for a successful playoff run, doofy call included. The Wings were finally challenged to the point that they had to respond physically and *emotionally,* and while the Kings’ physical bullshit to me is just that—bullshit—sometimes you need this kind of stuff to happen to galvanize a team, and this is the kind of stuff that the Tatars, Jurcos, Sheahans, Glendenings, DeKeysers, etc. need to feel like they’re part of the team and that they belong.

You build identity any way you can, and in this case, you take your breaks and run with ‘em.

Can’t help all the injuries. The kids are getting a chance and the effort is there most of the time. We know, from last year, how valuable this is. A guy like Murzak would have helped. Wish there was a way they could have kept him.

The team played tough and physical when needed. I hope this carries on. I fear that when (if) the roster gets healthy again they will regress back to old habits. Sticks were in lanes, players were blocking shots, and racing back to help cover on D. Those things need to continue regardless of who is on the ice. Also thought Emer had a good game and Glendenning was getting fired up about them trying to push him around. I agree George, sometimes physical games are needed to bring a team together. This game when someone got messed with, another guy or two or three showed up to help. Much unlike the game when Datsyuk was elbowed.

they woke a team of plucky youngsters and cagey vets that had been sleepwalking their way through a stretch of severely undermanned games

there is no way their effort over the last handful of games can be classified as sleepwalking. The results haven’t been there, but I’d never question there desire or effort.

Posted by
Hootinani
from the parade following Babs out of town on 01/19/14 at 11:07 AM ET

I love the youngin’s. They are quickly becoming the heart and soul of this team.

And yes, the Wings absolutely darn tootin’ did deserve the break they got on that flukey goal. That kind of stuff has been going against the Wings for years! Good to finally see a little payback from the Hockey Gods.

And James Howard. I don’t know if it was getting selected for Team USA or what. But he has definitely gotten himself back into top form recently. If he plays this coming week like he played last night, he will give the Wings a chance to win all these games.

LGRW!!!!!

Posted by
MsRedWinger
from the State where Tigers roam in the Spring on 01/19/14 at 11:15 AM ET

Of course they deserved to win - look at the way they stood their ground against a big, talented and HEALTHY Kings team. George, I love you man, with that patch-worked motley crew of a lineup to go to to toe with one of the top teams in the league and refuse to be dominated physically, you think they didn’t deserve that win? Give your head a shake!

I don’t know about you guys, but based on what I saw, Sheahan was the best player on the ice - despite the lack of goals. I had no idea he could move like that - I thought he was just another big, north-south guy who could screen goalies and chip in the odd goal, but this guy has real power forward potential. I can see why they play him with Bert - they want him to be the kind of dominating forward Bertuzzi was in his youth - maybe not with those numbers, but the same style of player. Jurco looked good on that line too, hopefully Babs will keep them together for a bit longer and they can start converting some of those chances.

And Tatar - this kid is all heart. They’re just a different team when he’s in the lineup. Lastly, Jimmy was feisty and sharp - hopefully, he stays healthy and focused because that’s the Jimmy we need night in and night out.

I really believe that this game could serve as the foundation for a successful playoff run

Ugh. Can people please stop wildly overreacting to every good or bad thing that happens to Detroit this year?

2) I hate it when people blow movie quotes. Especially fairly awesome ones.

Finally, these are the seasons that identify the Wings fans who like hockey and the ones who just like winning. The hockey, as hockey, has been a lot of fun to watch the past month. It’s been largely futile on the scoreboard, but the play itself has been fine and the crucible within which we’re seeing players grow or fail on an almost shift to shift basis has been a change from what’s played out on the ice in Detroit for most of the past 20+ years.

I’m actually starting to really enjoy this season. Maybe, even, a bit more than last years.

I’m laughing at this goal because something similar happened in my Summer league game a few years ago. Although our puck never went off the back netting and down into the goal it did go high enough into the air so that no one saw it until it hit our goalie on the back and dropped into the net.

I loved seeing Jimmy get feisty with the Kings and Quick. That has to do a lot for his confidence, that he stood his ground. I thought it was hilarious that Mickey pointed out that Quick has no idea who he is playing against and must have been really disoriented. Haha. I guess that is one benefit to having 8 top line guys out of commission. Do you think that the Olympics will help some of the guys have a chance to take a break and get healthy? Having said that, the Wings have 10 guys going to the Olympics, plus Jurco.

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